Clinical knowledge, judgement and communication matter far more than how quickly someone can use a keyboard. But as more healthcare work takes place through digital systems, being comfortable entering information accurately and efficiently has practical value.
Typing is only one small part of that. NHS England describes digital technology as an essential part of healthcare and says the workforce needs to be competent and confident in its use. Its digital learning resources cover skills ranging from basic keyboard use and file management to more advanced software skills.
So, when did you last check how quickly and accurately you can actually type?
Test your typing speed
A typing test gives you a simple baseline, usually measured in words per minute (WPM) and accuracy. You don’t need any special software, and there are several free options online:
- Typing.com offers free 1, 3 and 5-minute tests and reports both your WPM and accuracy. It also has typing lessons if you want to practise afterwards.
- Monkeytype provides a customisable typing test with different modes and lets you track your progress.
- TypingTest.com offers different test lengths and difficulty levels, including a medical text option that may be particularly interesting for healthcare professionals.
- Keybr if testing reveals that you actually want to improve. It combines typing practice with speed and accuracy measurement
If you haven’t measured your typing before, take one of the tests and make a note of both results:
WPM: ______ Accuracy: ______%
The important thing is not to treat the result as a pass mark.
Use your result as a baseline
Whatever your result, treat it as a starting point rather than a target you have to hit. If you’d like to get quicker or more accurate, spend some time practising and then repeat the same test. The interesting bit is seeing whether you improve.
If you type more slowly than you’d like, practise and test yourself again. If your speed looks good but your accuracy falls when you try to go faster, accuracy may be the better thing to work on.
For a meaningful comparison, try using the same test each time. Different sites offer different test lengths, text and settings, so changing the test can change what you’re measuring.
Typing is part of a bigger digital picture
The point isn’t to turn healthcare professionals into professional typists.
Keyboard use sits within a much broader set of digital skills. NHS England’s learning resources cover everyday capabilities including keyboard skills, working with applications, managing files, selecting and editing text and navigating the web.
That’s a more useful way to think about your result. If using a keyboard feels uncomfortable or unnecessarily slow, improving it is something practical you can work on. If you’re already confident, your development time may be better spent elsewhere.
The aim isn’t to chase an arbitrary WPM score. It’s to become comfortable enough with everyday technology that using it doesn’t unnecessarily get in the way of the work you’re trying to do.
Try it now, then test yourself again
Take a test and record the result. Practise for a while, then come back and take the same test again.
You may discover you’re already perfectly comfortable. You may find accuracy is more of an issue than speed. Or you might identify a small skill that’s surprisingly easy to improve.
Either way, you’ve learnt something useful about your own digital confidence.
Thinking about your next healthcare role?
When you’re considering your next move, it’s worth looking beyond the headline clinical requirements and thinking about the practical skills and working environment that come with the role.
Explore current healthcare jobs with iGo Recruitment, or speak to our team about what you’re looking for in your next move.